Alternative Naming For North & South Islands

The New Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB)
Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa last Thursday agreed to proceed
to publicly consult on proposals to formally assign official
alternative names to New Zealand’s two main islands –
meaning that either the English name or the Māori name, or
both names together could be used as official.

NZGB Chair
Dr Don Grant says the move follows the receipt of a proposal
to change the name ‘South Island’ to its original Māori
name ‘Te Waipounamu’ and to consider the original Māori
name of the North Island at the same time.

“At that time
we noted that the existing English names were recorded
names, rather than official names. They appeared on
LINZ’s maps, charts and other official publications but
had never been formalised under the NZGB Act.

“The NZGB
agreed in principle that the English names should be
formalised, that – as a related pair – both islands
should also be assigned Māori alternative names, and that
all of the names should be formalised at the same
time.”

Following consultation with iwi, the NZGB
determined that the most appropriate Māori names for the
islands are ‘Te Ika-a-Māui’ (for the North Island) and
‘Te Waipounamu’ (for the South Island).

“The NZGB
Act was amended in December 2012, and now provides for
alternative naming. As such, the NZGB agreed at its latest
meeting on 28 March 2013 to begin the process to formalise
these names.

“This means that the two main islands of
New Zealand could soon be referred to officially as the
‘North Island’ or ‘Te Ika-a-Māui’ and the ‘South
Island’ or ‘Te Waipounamu’.”

Ends

Background Information

The New
Zealand Geographic Board (NZGB) Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa
is consulting the public about whether or not to formally
assign official alternative names to the two main islands of
New Zealand – meaning that both the current English names
and the Māori names would be able to be used together or
individually.

This move follows the receipt of a proposal
to change the name ‘South Island’ to its original Māori
name, as well as the discovery that the existing English
names for the islands have never been formalised. As such,
they are recorded names rather than official names.

As
recorded names, ‘North Island’ and ‘South Island’
appear on LINZ maps and charts, and other official
publications. However, the NZGB Act 2008 does not require
recorded names to be used. The Māori names appeared on
early official government maps of New Zealand, however, it
is unclear as to why this practice ceased during the
1950s.

While there are a number of Māori names for both
islands, the names ‘Te Ika ā Māui (‘the fish of
Māui’ – North Island) and Te Waipounamu (‘the waters
of greenstone’ – South Island) were deemed most
appropriate following consultation with iwi.

Although the
NZGB’s decision in principle was initially made in 2007,
the matter was deferred as the New Zealand Geographic Board
Act 2008 did not provide for alternative naming. As the Act
was amended in December 2012, the NZGB is now able to
proceed.

For more information about New Zealand
place naming, and the role of the NZGB, visit
http://www.linz.govt.nz/placenames.

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